Clip holster for 3" Model 13?

[aterry33]

First of all, TRUST me, I know of all the caveats with clip holsters. I wonder if anyone has used one effectively with a 3" K Frame.

I have tried a few but I'm not sure whether I am uncomfortable with the shifting around or the position of the cylinder against my body.

Thoughts?

 

[sipowicz]

A good clip holster will not shift around if you use a good belt...any clip will move around without one...also, oversized clips and narrow belts will cause shifting...try and get a clip mated to the belt and it will not move at all.

As for the cylinder, it is going to be against your body no matter what style IWB you use so not sure what you mean....but get an offset clip to reduce bulk...lobo gun leather makes a real nice one. Mine is for a P2000 but he makes them for revos also...my clip is perfectly mated to my 1 1/2 inch wilderness and doesn't shift at all, I even wear it with my 1 1/4 inch wilderness and it stays put...

 

[cmort666]

First of all, TRUST me, I know of all the caveats with clip holsters. I wonder if anyone has used one effectively with a 3" K Frame.

I have tried a few but I'm not sure whether I am uncomfortable with the shifting around or the position of the cylinder against my body.

Thoughts?

Let's clarify what you really mean by "clip holster".

Do you mean just a metal clip which attaches to the gun, like a "Clip Draw"?

Or do you mean a run of the mill IWB holster that attaches to the belt via a clip?

If the former, I don't recommend them or anything else which doesn't completely cover the trigger guard. In addition, they're illegal when in a vehicle in Ohio.

If you just mean a clip on IWB, there are plenty of those, ranging from awful, like the cheap Bianchis, to decent like the Don Hume 715M. I frequently carry a 3" Model 65 in one of those. I'm gradually transitioning to my own handmade tuckable IWBs. I haven't made one for a K frame yet, but plan to. Here's a picture of one for a 3" J frame:

 

[aterry33]

Thanks guys. I was referring to a clip holster, not one of those little clips that attach directly to the gun, which I would never use. And my point as to the cylinder was that the clip doesn't seem to work well at all n a revolver when it's directly over the cylinder (to your offset clip point).

I have used an Alessi Talon with a Glock 19 and it worked well. However, I tried a Talon with the 3" 13 and it didn't work out as well.

Perhaps I can talk to Lobo Leather about something that will work better. When you use the clip holster, do you clip it onto the belt, or do you clip it onto the pants and then run the belt over it? Years ago I heard Lou Alessi say the latter was the idal way to run the Talon.

 

[cmort666]

Perhaps I can talk to Lobo Leather about something that will work better. When you use the clip holster, do you clip it onto the belt, or do you clip it onto the pants and then run the belt over it? Years ago I heard Lou Alessi say the latter was the idal way to run the Talon.

I put the clip over the belt.

I don't have any problems with either the Don Hume or my tuckables with the clip over the cylinder.

 

[Old cop]

I'd go with an IWB clip on, and have done so for over 40 years with an old style model 38 or Colt Cobra. I usually carry appendix which seems to work best when wearing a tee shirt or sweat short on the outside. Hope this helps . . .

 

[LoboGunLeather]

In my experience, there are two factors that need to be dealt with on IWB-style belt clip holsters.

First is the location of the belt clip. When placed over the bulk of the weapon (especially revolver cylinders) this adds bulk to the package, and also projects out where the clip can snag on things repeatedly.

Second is the belt clip itself. As Sipowicz has noted, the clip has to be a good fit to the belt used. I have also found that the clips generally available from suppliers are of varying quality, frequently lacking the strength to grip securely, and frequently being too flimsy for long-term service.

Earlier this year I started a project for an offset belt clip IWB holster and made up a few for testing (Sipowicz was one of my testers, and the holster for his HK P2000 is one of the prototypes). One of the results of that testing was identifying the need for a durable and sturdy belt clip, so I contacted manufacturers and found one that agreed to produce what I wanted. I have an order pending production, which is taking longer than we anticipated, and I hope to have my first shipment within the next couple of weeks. At that time I will be able to start filling orders, and I will add this model to my website.

I do recommend that a belt be used with this type of holster. The clips that I am having made are very strong, have a profile intended to clamp securely around the belt, and I think they will grip firmly on a trouser waistband, but there will always be the possibility of a closely-fitted holster coming out with the handgun when drawn, especially in a tense situation. This possibility can be greatly reduced by giving the clip a belt to clench onto.

I find this style of holster to be very convenient for slipping a holstered handgun into the waistband easily, and easily removing it. Those with the need to go into and out of areas where weapons are not allowed or not advisable can make use of this type of holster. While not a holster design that I would choose for extended wear, for known dangerous situations, or for range use, I think this style fills a need for many people and circumstances.

As with any holster design, there are always compromises among the factors of comfort, accessibility, security, and concealability. There is no single "perfect" holster design for every user or every situation.

 

[cmort666]

Second is the belt clip itself. As Sipowicz has noted, the clip has to be a good fit to the belt used. I have also found that the clips generally available from suppliers are of varying quality, frequently lacking the strength to grip securely, and frequently being too flimsy for long-term service.

I've found the clips used by Don Hume to be very secure, with no inadvertent releases with four of them. In fact, Massad Ayoob singles them out for praise.

The Tandy clips that I use for my IWBs seem to be virtually identical to those used by Hume. I've never had a problem with them, nor have the people using my holsters.

You can of course go overboard with anything. In addition to being made of flimsy, unsupported leather, the first cheap Bianchi IWB I bought the day I got my Ohio CHL, had a clip that was INSANELY aggressive to the point where I had exceptional difficulty getting it on and off of my belt, even with my pants OFF.